Our fruit and nuts are ripening 18 days earlier than a decade ago due to warmer weather
Fruit and nuts from British trees are ripening an average of 18 days earlier than a decade ago.
Figures from the Woodland Trust suggest that the changing climate is altering the patterns of a range of trees.
The trend has been seen across a dozen species, with acorns ripening 13 days earlier than they did between 2000 and 2002; beech nuts 19 days earlier; and rowan berries almost a month ahead of schedule.
Rowan berries are amongst the fruits that are ripening sooner as a result of warmer climates
Experts believe the shift is down to the trees flowering earlier in the face of warmer springs.
Professor Tim Sparks, nature adviser for the Trust, said: ‘There is a suggestion that the average ripening dates have some correlation with mean temperatures recorded for April, so we presume that the link is through earlier flowering leading to earlier ripening.
‘However, to see such a uniform advance across so many species is most unusual and we need many years’ more data from the public to try to better understand the reasons for these changes.’
Oak trees are also reaping the reward of hotter days with their nuts ripening earlier than anticipated
The Trust said the changes may mean that wildlife will have access to more food earlier – but the reserves could then be depleted earlier in the winter.
It added that 2011 would go down on record as a ‘mast year’, or bumper crop, for beech and oak trees, possibly as a result of the early, hot spring.
The charity is urging people to plant a million trees for its Jubilee Woods project to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee.